A handout photo made available by NASA shows an illustration of the Cassini spacecraft about to make the first in a series of 22 dives through the 2,400 km gap between Saturn and its rings next week as part of its mission's grand finale. The spacecraft will then end its expedition on September 15, 2017, with a final plunge into the gas giant. Photo: EPA

NASA’s Cassini spacecraft goes into last dance of death with Saturn before dying in September

A handout photo made available by NASA shows an illustration of the Cassini spacecraft about to make the first in a series of 22 dives through the 2,400 km gap between Saturn and its rings next week as part of its mission's grand finale. The spacecraft will then end its expedition on September 15, 2017, with a final plunge into the gas giant. Photo: EPA